Apparatus for burning o



Oct. 31, 1933. J. w. CANNON 1,933,044

APPARATUS FOR BURNING OIL Filed Dec, 26 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 31,1933. J. w. cANNoN 1,933,044

APPARATUS FOR BURNING oiL Filed Dec. 26, 1929 4 Shets-Sheet 2 o o \hm AA N W N Am 5 W W h v MM w N N\ MN .IJIL MN N m N A AA WAN M%N AQW Oct.31, 1933. J. w. CANNON 1,933,044

APPARATUS FOR BURNING OIL Filed Dec. 26, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 31,1933. J. w. CANNON APPARATUS FOR BURNING OIL Filed Dec. 2", 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 4 abtmmcg 5 Fa tented Get. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Application December 26, 1929 Serial No. 416,469

12 Claims.

This invention relates .to an apparatus for burning oil and has for itsgeneral purpose and object the production of an apparatus of thischaracter which will enable oil to be burned, and the heat generated bythe combustion thereof to be utilized, in a particularly eflicientmanner; also the production of a burner apparatus ,which is capable ofburning and utilizing efiiciently oil of low gravity, such as No. 3heavy furnace oil, as well as oil of higher gravity. Further and morelimited objects of the invention will appear hereinafter and will berealized in and through the construction and arrangement of parts shownin the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 represents a somewhat diagrammatic planview of a fuel burning system including one form of burner embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 a side elevation of the system and burner shown inFig. 1; Fig. 3 a sectional view corresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;Fig. 4 a central vertical sectional view through the burner shown in thepreceding views; Fig. 5 a similar view through the upper portion of theburner shown in Fig. 4 and taken at right angles to the former view;Fig. 6 a detail in section through the lower portion of the burner shownin Figs. 2 and i; Fig. '7 a vertical sectional view through the lowerportion of a modified form of burner; and Fig. 8 a sectional viewcorresponding to the line 88 of Fig. '7.

Describing the various parts .by reference characters and first inconnection with Figs. 1-6 inclusive, 1 denotes a plurality of standardssupporting the circular base 2 of a firepot, the

base being preferably of cast iron and having an annular verticalmarginal wall 3. Preferably cast with the base 2 is a central air supplychamber 4, the said chamber having a portion 4 projecting above the baseand preferably to about the height of the wall 3 and having a portion 4depending below the base and closed at the bottom and provided in oneside thereof with a threaded opening 4 for the reception of the pipe 5by means of which air is supplied through the chamber 4 from a blower 6.

Air delivered to the chamber 4 through the pipe 5 is forced into acylindrical distributer '7, the lower end of which surrounds the upperend 4 of the chamber 4, the upper end of the distributer being providedwith an integral cover 8. The distributer may be of any suitablerefractory material capable of withstanding the temperature existingwithin the firepot and is prorided in its cylindrical wall with a lowerhorizontal series of openings 9, in the intermediate portion of suchcylindrical wall with several horizontal series of openings 10, in itsupper portion with a horizontal series of openings 11, and at thejunction of its side and its cover with a horizontal series of upwardlyinclined openings 12, the cover 8 being provided with a plurality ofvertical openings 13 near the center thereof.

The lower portion of the chamber 4 is provided with a hub 14 having inthe lower portion thereof a chamber 15 which receives oil from a pipe 16and delivers such oil to a small pipe 1'? which extends axially of thechamber 4 and distributer 7 and through thecover of the distributer andthrough a pair of spreaders indicated respectively at 18 and 19. The hub14 is provided, above the chamber 15, with a chamber 20 which receivesgas from a pipe 21 and delivers it through a pipe 22 which surrounds thepipe 17 and extends through the spreader l8'to a point below the bottomof the spreader 19.

It will be noted that the spreader 18 is supported on a central hub 8projecting from the center of the top of the cover 8 and through whichhub thepipes 1'7 and 22 extend, and that the top of this spreader isupwardly convex, the spreader being provided at its periphery with anannular depending flange 18 which is spaced from but overhangs slightlythe top of the distributer.

The spreader 19 is considerably smaller than the spreader 18 and issupported from the former spreader by means of its frusto conical wall19 It will be noted that the spreader 19-is provided with a trough 19between the center and the periphery thereof; also that it is pro-'vided on its under surface with a depending circular wall 19 whichsurrounds and is spaced from the upper end of the pipe 22.

The distributer and spreaders are mounted within a firepot comprisingthe base 2, the cylindrical side wall 23, and a cover 24 having acentral cylindrical opening 25 above the spreaders 18 and 19, the bottomof this opening merging with the top of a frustoconical recess 26 formedin the cover and extending upwardly from the outer portion of the bottomof the cover to the bottom of the opening 25. The upper end of the wall23 supports the cover by means of an annular seat 24 on the bottom ofthe latter, the said cover having a cylindrical wall 24 depending andfitting within the upper end of the wall 23. The wall 23 and the cover24 are of refractory material capable of withstanding the temperaturesto which they are subjected. I have found silicon carbide to be adtooperate Seated on top of the cover 24 is a combustionchamber hood, thesaid hood comprising a lower section 27, preferably round in section andseated within a peripheral ledge 24 on top of the cover, and an upperhood section 28 seated upon the lower section. The top of the uppersection is semi-cylindrical in section, as shown at 28 and is providedwith opposed outlets 28 The complete combustion-chamber hood comprisingthe members 27 and 28 is provided with means for -admitting air throughopposite sides of the bottom thereof adjacent to the top of the passage25, these openings being shown at 29. A baflle bar 30 extends across thetop of the lower hood section 27, having its ends mounted in slots 2'7in opposite walls thereof. The parts 27, 28 and 30 are also ofrefractory material, silicon carbide being preferred for such material.

My apparatus as thus far described is shown as forming part of a systemincluding the blower 6 to which reference has been made hereinbefore.The system indicated in these views consists generally of an electricmotor 31, the shaft 32 of which operates the shaft of the'blower 6, theblower and the motor being supported upon a base 33. The motor drives,through a coupling 32, a pump 32 to which oil is supplied through-astrainer 34 and a pipe 35 .from any suitable storage tank (not shown).From this pump oil is delivered to a by-pass tank 36 and thence throughthe pipe 16 to the burner, the gurplus oil being conducted back to thestorage tank through the pipe-37. This manner of supplying oil from thestorage tankto a by-pass tank and delivering the oil from the by-passtank to a burner while returning the surplus oil to the storage tank isshown and described in my Patent No. 1,572,591, issued February 9, 1926,and in its details forms no part of the invention covered in thisapplication. The bypass tank may be of any approved construction,suchlasdisclosed in my aforesaid patent and in my application Serial No.2%,357, flied January '9, 1928. In Fig. 1', A and B represent theconductors for supplying current to the motor, and a thermostatic switchC is shown in the circuit, the switch enabling the burner to be used foreither an off-and-on fire, or for a high and low flre, according to therequirements of the particular installation.

With the parts constructed and arranged as described, the operation willbe as follows: With the switch C closed, oil will be forced through thepipes 16 and 17 and into the trough 19, where it will beheatedby theflame of the pilot burner issuing through the notches 19 in the spreaderwall 19, and the oil flowing down the spreader l9 and 18 will be ignitedby such pilot burner. Air under comparatively low pressure and highvelocity will be delivered by the blower through the pipe 5 and throughthe openings 9,

10, 11 and 12. The air passing through these openings atomizes the oilwhich drops from the spreader 18, and the oil vapors are burned whileheld in suspension by such air, mainly in the upper half of the flrepotformed below the cover 24. The location and arrangement of the openings12 blows the oil oil the bottom of the flange 18 However, should any oilsucceed in passing around the bottom of this flange, it will beprevented from passing 'irther by the air discharged through theopenings 13 and passing beneath the bottom of the spreader 18 and aroundthe bottom of the flange.

As pointed out hereinbefore, the oil is burned while in suspension,passing through the flame while the air which supports combustion andwhich atomizes the oil is traveling in the opposite direction from theoil as it is delivered from the spreader. This action subjects the oilmost effectively to the action of the flame as well as serving to put itinto the best condition for complete and efficient combustion.

Reference has been made to the cover 24 and to the arrangement of therecess 26 and opening 25. This arrangement of cover, recess, and openingconcentrates the flame above the tops of the spreaders 18 and 19,thereby heating them to a temperature sufficient to facilitate thedistribution of the oil over the surfaces thereof. Furthermore, thisheat serves to maintain the top of the spreaders free from anyaccumulation of carbon, this action being due to the concentration ofthe flame above and in the vicinity of the spreaders by the cover 24.

The flame and products of combustion pass through the opening 25 underhigh velocity and entrain air through the openings 29 thereby tofacilitate and complete the combustion within the hood 27, 28.

The flame and products of combustion are subjected to a re-circulationin the secondary combustion chamber formed by the hood 27, 28, and thehot walls of this chamber contribute to the rapid combustion therein.The upper or secondary'combustion chamber formed by the hood membersfunctions in a manner analogous to a flue whereby, when the blower andoil are shut oif, the burner will functionin a manner analogous to alamp to consume the remaining oil vapors without the development ofsmoke. The baiile 30 in the top of the hood member 27 also facilitatesthe thorough mixing of the air, flame, and products of combustion andserves as a means for re-igniting this mixture, if accidentallyextinguished. Furthermore the baiiie, being heated to radianttemperature, will increase the rate of combustion.

The top of the hood 28 is so shaped as to impart a. whirling action-tothe flame and products of combustion prior to their delivery through theoppositely arranged horizontal outlets 28 This gives a flnal mixing ofthe flame ,and products'of incomplete combustion so that completecombustion is assured at the time the flame and gases of combustion aredelivered through the opposed horizontal outlets-28 and the hood isparticularly useful where it is desired to protect the articles orobjects which are heated from direct impingement by the flame and/orgases of combustion.

Summarizing the general operation, combustion is initiated in theflrepot proper formed below the cover 24, but is completed in thesecondary combustion chamber constituted by the hood members 27, 28. Thetemperature in the firepot is very high and serves to gasify the oilwith the development of high temperatures within the firepot whileburning a quantity of oil which, compared with other burners with whichI am familiar, is very small. As the spreader 18 is of greater diameterthan the distributer 7, oil

flowing from the spreader cannot come in contact with the wall or" thedistributer, which might result in the formation of a carbon oeposit onthe surface of the latter; and this prevention of access of oil to thedistributer is further prevented by the passage of the air through theopenings therein. The oil enters the firepot at the hottest point in thelatter, insuring rapid volatilization of the oil, and it is suppliedthrough the pipe 1'? under high velocity (due to the small diameter ofthe said pipe), thereby vpreventingthe gasification'of the oil in thepipe and the choking or clogging of the latter by carbon. Furthermore,the pipe 17 is surrounded by the gas pipe 22, which serves to cool theoil pipe, while both pipes are further cooled by the air passingupwardly in the distributer.

If desired, the burner can be operated with the pot only, including thecover 24, but this will result in producing an elongated flame and willreduce the amount of radiant heat. Furthermore, while the apparatusshown herein will operate without a blower, better results are obtainedby the use of the blower, particularly in starting the apparatus inoperation, at which time there will be no draft in the flue or chimneyof the heating unit. Still further, the use of a blower increases theeificiency of the apparatus, beca'use the air enters the pot at a highvelocity, the advantages of such mode of air delivery having been,explained hereinbefore.

In l igs. 7 and 8 there is shown a modification of my invention whereinit is contemplated that a hood similar to that shown in the precedingviews will be employed, the lower hood member being indicated at 27 andthe cover being indicated at 24. The cylindrical side wall of thefirepot 31 is similar to the cylindrical wall 24 in the precedingembodiment of my invention, but is provided with vertically spacedhorizontally arranged series of openings 32, 33,. 34, and this wall issurrounded by an outer cylindrical wall 35, the top of which is engagedby the cover 24. The wall 35 is shown as formed with the base 36 whichsupports the wall 31 and the troughed base member 37, which is similarto the trougned base member 26 in Fig. 4. The air distributer in thiscase, indicated at 38, is frusto-conical in shape, having its lower endseated within the base member 37 and being provided with downwardly andoutwardly inclined openings 39 in its side wall. The bottom of thisdistributer registers with the open top of a shallow chamber 36 at thecenter of the base 36, this chamher having at the bottom thereof a hub14 substantially identical with the hub 14 shown in Figs. 4 and 6 andhaving therein the chambers 15 and 20 with the former of which the pipes15 and i6 communicate and with the latter of which the pipes 21 and 22communicate. The pipes 17 and 22 extend through the top of thedistributer 38, the pipe 17 extending through the spreader 19 which isidentical in construction with thelike-designated spreader in thepreceding views, and the pipe 22 serving to deliver gas. in the samerelation to the spreader 19 as does the like-designated pipe in suchpreceding views.

' The pipe'5 for conducting air from the blower v,the top of thespreader 1'9 and is there ignited is connected at its delivery end tothe wall 3 and delivers air to the annular space between such wall andthe wall 31. A branch pipe 40 leads from the pipe 5 to the wall 36 anddelivers air to the interior of the distributer 38.

The operation of the burner or apparatus shown in Figs. 7 and 8 issimilar to that of the apparatus shown in the preceding views. The oilis supplied through the pipes 16 and 17 to by the pilot burner suppliedby gas from the pipe 21 and 22. The oil dripping from the spreader inthis case flows along the thickened top of the distributer whichfunctions also as a spreader. By the time the oil reaches the upperseries of openings 39, it is met by the air delivered undercomparatively high velocity through such opings, and is also subjectedto the air entering the upper orifices in the wall 31. The oil vapors,being mixed with air, burn within the firepot, developing a hightemperature, and the flame and the products of combustion pass throughthe opening 25 in the cover 24 and into the hood thereabove, where theyare subjected to the same action as'described hereinbefore in connectionwith Figs. 1-6.

Because of the construction and mode of operation of the apparatus shownand described herein, I am enabled toburn efiiciently heavy fuel oils,such as No. 3 heavy furnace oil; to accomplish this result without theformation and deposition of carbon on the operating parts of theapparatus; to develop high temperatures within the firepot and withinthe hood thereabove, with the consumption of a proportion- 11;) atelysmall quantity of oil; and also to insure a thorough mixing of the oiland air throughout a wide range of operation. For instance, a smallsizedapparatus can operate efficiently with three quarts of oil per hour. butcan be adjusted so as to burn three gallons of oil per hour efiiciently,without any change in construction or design. The apparatus as awhole'is of very high efiiciency and, for that reason as well as becauseof its adaptability for use with lowgrade oils, is extremely economicalin operation.

The cover 24, due to its construction and arrangement with reference tothe distributer, directs the products of combustion and the flame awayfrom the distributer. struction and arrangement, the products ofcombustion and flame would be directedagainst and into the distributer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for burning oil, the combination of a firepot. an airdistributer extending upwardly from the central portion of the firepotand having perforations in the side wall thereof for the delivery of airinto the said fire pot, an oil supply pipe extending vertically throughthe said distributer, a spreader above the said distributer throughwhich the delivery end of the said pipe extends and having an exposedsurface for the flow of oil thereover, means for supplying air underpressure to the interior of the said distributer, and means associatedwith said spreader for igniting the oil delivered by the oil supply pipeupon the said spreader.

2. In an apparatus for burning oil, the comination of a firepot, an airdistributer extending upwardly from the central portion of the firepotand having perforations in the side wall But for this cona spreaderabove the said distributer and having an exposed surface for thedistribution of oil thereover, an oil supply, pipe delivering oil uponsaid spreader, means for supplying air under pressure to the interior ofthe said distributer, means associated with the said spreader forigniting the oil delivered by the oilsupply pipe to the top of the saidspreader, a cover for the said firepot, the'said cover having a centralopening therethrough and arranged to direct the flame and products ofcombustion from the firepot in, operative relation to the spreaderthereby to heat-the latter to a temperature to prevent thecarbonization-of the oil thereon.

3. In an apparatus for burning oil, the combination of a firepot, an airdistributer extending upwardly from the central portion of the firepotand having perforations in the side wall thereof for delivery of airinto the said firepot, an oil supply pipe extending vertically throughthe said distributer, a. spreader above the said distributer throughwhich the upper end of the said pipe extends and having an exposedsurface for the distribution of oil thereover, means for supplying airunder pressure to the interior of the said distributer, means associatedwith the said spreader for igniting the oil delivered by the oil supplypipe to the top of the said spreader, a cover for the said firepot, thesaid cover having a central opening therethrough and a frusto-conicalrecess beneath said opening arranged to direct the flame and products ofcombustion from the firepot in operative relation to the spreaderthereby to heat the latter to a temperature to prevent the carbonizationof the oil thereon.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afirepot, an air distributer extending upwardly from the central portionof the said firepot, a spreader above the said distributer and having anexposed surface for the distribution of oil thereover, an oil supplypipe for delivering oil upon the said spreader, a gas supply pipe fordelivering gas in proximity to the said spreader, means for supplyingoil and gas through their respective pipes, means for supplying airunder pressure to the said distributer, the distributer having openingsin the side walLthereof for delivering air into the said firepot, and acover for the said firepot provided with a central opening therethrougharranged above and in proximity to the said spreader.

5.-In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afirepot, an air distributer extending upwardly from the central portionof the said firepot, a spreader above the distributer and extendingbeyond the sides thereof, a sec-- ond spreader mounted centrally abovethe firstmentioned spreader, an oil supply pipe extending upwardlythrough said distributer and through the top of the lower spreader andadapted to deliver oil to the top of the second spreader, a gas supplypipe surrounding the said oil pipe in the said distributer and extendingthrough the lower spreader and serving to deliver gas beneath the secondspreader, means for supplying oil and gas through their respectivepipes, and means for supplying air under pressure to the saiddistributer, the distributer having openings in the side wall thereoffor delivering air into "the said firepot below the said spreaders.

6. In an oil burning apparatus the combination of a firepot, an airdistributer projecting upwardly from the bottom of said firepot, a

spreader above the said distributer and overhanging and extending beyondthe side walls thereof, an oil supply pipe extending upwardly throughthe central portion of said distributer and through the said spreaderand adapted to deliver oil upon the said spreader, a gas supply pipealso extending through the said distributer and surrounding'the oilsupply pipe and terminating below the top of the latter, thereby toprovide a pilot burner supply, means for supplying air under pressure tothe interior of the said air distributer, the said distributer havingopenings in the side wall thereof for the delivery of air into thefirepot, some of said openings being arranged to direct air against theperipheral edge of the said spreader. T

. 7. In an oil burning apparatus, the combination of a firepot, an airdistributer extending upwardly from the central portion of thesaidfirepot, a spreader above the said distributer and having a peripheralflange depending therefrom and overhanging and spaced laterally from thetop of said distributer, an oil supply pipe for delivering oil upon thesaid spreader, a gas supply pipe for delivering gas in proximity to saidspreader, means for supplying air under pressure to the interior of thesaid distributer, the said distributer having openings forthe deliveryof air to the firepot, some of said openings being arranged to directair upwardly against the lower edge of the spreader flange, and saiddistributer also having openings in the top thereof positioned to directair beneath the bottom of the said spreader within the said flange.

8. In an oil burning apparatus, the combination of a firepot, an airdistributer projecting upwardly from the bottom of said firepot, aspreader above the said distributer and having a peripheral flangedepending therefrom and overhanging and spaced laterally from the top ofsaid distributer, a spreader above the firstmentioned spreader, an oilsupply pipe extending upwardly through the central portion of saiddistributer and through the said spreaders to deliver oil upon the firstspreader, a gas supply pipe. also extendingthrough the said distributerand the first-mentioned spreader and surrounding the oil supply pipe andterminating below the second spreader thereby to provide a pilot burnersupply beneath the second spreader, means for supplying air underpressure to the interior of the said distributer, the said distributerhaving openings for the deliveryof air to the firepot, some of saidopenings being arranged to direct air upwardly against the lower edge ofthe flange of the first spreader and said distributer also havingopenings in the top thereof positioned to direct air beneath the bottomof the first spreader within the flange thereof.

9. In an oil burning apparatus, the combination of a firepot, avertically extending air distributer within the said firepot and havingopenings through the side wall thereof, a spreader supported above thesaid distributer, a

pipe for delivering oil upon said spreader, means for supplying oilunder high velocity through said pipe, means for igniting the oilsupplied to the said spreader, means for supplying air under highvelocity through the openings in the wall of the distributer into theoil and vapors delivered from the said spreader, and a cover for thesaid firepot, the said cover-having an outlet opening positioned toconcentrate the 'flame and products of combustion delivered through thesaid cover in proximity to the said spreader.

iii. In an apparatus for burning oil, the combination of a firepothaving a cover provided with an opening therethrough, means fordelivering oil and air under pressure into said firepot and forinitiating the combustion of the oil therein, a hood extending from andabove the said cover and constituting a secondary combustion chamber,the said hood having a lateral outlet at the top thereof and havingopem'ngs in the bottom through which air will be entrained by the flameand gaseous products entering the bottom of said hood through theopening in said cover, the top of the hood being arched thereby toimpart a whirling action to the flame and gaseous products of combustionand to insure thorough admixture and combustion thereof.

11. In an apparatus for burning oil, the combination of a firepot havinga cover provided with a central opening therethrough, means fordelivering oil and air under pressure into said firepot and forinitiating the combustion of the oil therein, a hood extending from andabove the said cover and constituting a secondary cornbustion chamber,the said hood having a lateral outlet at the top thereof and havingopenings in the bottom through which air will be entrained by the flameand gaseous products entering the bottom of said hood through theopening in said cover, the top of the hood being arched thereby toimpart a whirling action to the flame and gaseous products of combustionand insure thorough admixture and combustion thereof, and a baflieextending across the upper portion of the said hood below the arched topthereof, the said hood and bailie being made of refractory materialhaving high heat radiating capacity.

12. In an apparatus for burning oil, the combination of a combustionchamber, an air distributer extending upwardly from the central portionof the combustion chamber and having perforations in the walls thereoffor delivery of air into the said combustion chamber, a spreaderextending beyond the periphery of said distributer and having an exposedsurface for the distribution of oil thereover, an oil supply pipedelivering oil upon said spreader, means for supplying air underpressure to the interior of the said distributer, means for igniting theoil delivered by the oil supply pipe to the top of the said spreader,and a cover for the said combustion chamber, the said cover having acentral opening therethrough and arranged to direct the flame andproducts of combustion in heating relation to said spreaderQ JOHN W.CANNON.

